Sarah Fleming

Sarah works clinically with adults and adolescents as well as young children with complex communication difficulties resulting from acquired brain injury as well as birth injuries.  Sarah works with her clients in the early stages following their injury or diagnosis, as well as further down the line when they have been living with their injury/diagnosis for many years.  She continually supports functional communication and behaviour as the individual’s life and circumstances change over time.  This may also include ongoing assessment for initiating oral feeding in clients who have been enterally fed for many years.

Sarah has a keen interest in technology and augmentative communication and the advances that are continually occurring that have the potential to enable severely impaired clients to engage with their environment.  Sarah works closely with case managers and other members of the multidisciplinary team, including support workers, to ensure her client’s communication potential is reached and maintained.

Her role is to help them meet their maximum potential and to guide and support their reintegration back into the community from where they came.  This may involve identifying opportunities and supports, such as suitably experienced personnel or technology, to provide the structure necessary for them to succeed.  For those with long term dysphagia or a tracheostomy, Sarah’s role may be one of assessment for potential to begin oral feeding or tracheostomy weaning.

Prior to this, Sarah was the Clinical Specialist SLT at Bath Neuro-Rehab service for over 15 years.  Here she worked as part of a highly specialised interdisciplinary team managing clients with complex neuro-disability, from acute care through to discharge home.  This involved acting as ‘co-ordinator’ to ensure a successful transition home, including assisting with assessment of the home situation and organising a suitable level of care or cognitive support.

Sarah has completed work as an Expert Witness with Jacqueline Webb & Co since 2013.  In her role as an Expert Witness, Sarah prepares reports on claimants whose main care needs are due to cognitive and communication difficulties, either high level or subtle in nature.  Her expertise allows her to comment with confidence on areas of cognition and communication, dysphagia and tracheostomy, as well as associated physical impairments.

Sarah’s areas of special interest include social communication, technology in communication including alternative means of communication (AAC), managing difficult behaviour and maintaining oral feeding.